When you look at the numbers – 35 shots (8 on goal), 78% time of possession, you’d miss the big picture, and the fact that Liverpool needed David N’Gog to dive and get an unjust penalty and for an ailing off the bench Steven Gerrard to save the drowning reds one point. Birmingham got out of their half, but still managed two goals in the first half, with the second of them a brilliant strike from Cameron Jerome.

Liverpool had the lead from N’Gog but a usual blunder in the back got Birmingham the equalizer (Benitez with his first league goal) and later on that wonderful strike from Jerome. Liverpool pressed, pushed and shoved, but only a bad call from Peter Walton denied Liverpool’s second loss at Anfield this season. So where does this game leave us? Liverpool are 7th, 11 points behind Chelsea and (seemingly) light years away from a title challenge. It’s Manchester City in 2 weeks. Birmingham? They got a bonus point, staying at 15th, with a long season and relegation battle ahead of them.